[tydurden377]

Poorly decided to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana. Some of my symptoms have returned after doing so.

My question is this:

is it ok to starve yourself while having a concussion?

I need to lose weight, and the easiest way I can reduce my intake of food is pretty much by eating less, which will leave me feeling hungry.

Is it safe?

[Jomar]

The body needs healthy foods & proper nutrition to best heal.
booze & mj = junk foods

"starving" the body will send it into protection mode so it will hang on to any calories, at best you only lose water weight. which will come right back..

weight loss forum -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum42.html

[tydurden377]

True.

But is it harmful for the brain during a concussion to starve yourself? Need to go on a cutting phase which will require me to lower my calorie intake by 800-1000 calories a day. Meaning Im going to be pretty hungry

[hermanator90]

Whatever you do, just don't drink again. I did, now I'm struggling a lot.

Originally Posted by tydurden377

True.

But is it harmful for the brain during a concussion to starve yourself? Need to go on a cutting phase which will require me to lower my calorie intake by 800-1000 calories a day. Meaning Im going to be pretty hungry

[Mark in Idaho]

tydurden,

You may consider including lots of MCT's, Medium Chain Triglycerides to your diet. MCT's are brain food when the body is in a famine mode ? Coconut oil is the most common MCT.

You can get MCTs from whole foods: here's a list of MCTs in foods, as a percentage of total fats (source):

Coconut oil: 15%
Palm kernel oil: 7.9%
Cheese (if you tolerate dairy): 7.3%
Butter: 6.8%
Milk: 6.9%
Yogurt: 6.6%
http://paleoleap.com/mct-oil-need-know/

So, try to limit the reduction of these foods.

Why do you need to lose weight so fast ?

[tydurden377]

Thanks. My overall question relates to the brain though, and not specifically to how to lose weight (not that I dont appreciate the answers).

What im trying to ask is it it bad for your brain during a concussion if you were to starve yourself?

[Mark in Idaho]

My response was directed at the needs of the brain.

Starving oneself is not healthy, concussion or not. The toxins released as the body searches for energy causes body fat to be consumed faster that the body can tolerate the toxins stored in body fat.

Starvation puts the body into a state of ketosis. MCT's provide the energy the brain needs during ketosis. There are some studies that show a ketogenic diet can lead to weight loss.

You use the term 'cutting phase.' Are you cutting down for wrestling competition ?

[kiwi33]

Originally Posted by tydurden377

What im trying to ask is it it bad for your brain during a concussion if you were to starve yourself?

The short answer to your question is yes.

The brain needs a lot of metabolic energy to function (neuro-transmission is metabolically expensive). Its preferred source of metabolic energy is glucose, derived from carbohydrate-rich foods as part of a balanced diet.

If you starve yourself your body will use a storage form of glucose called glycogen. Once your glycogen reserves have run out your brain will use what are called ketone bodies as an energy source. Ketone bodies are derived from fatty acids and are acidic. Over-production of ketone bodies can lead to metabolic acidosis which often has adverse health outcomes.

Once your fatty acid reserves are exhausted your body will break down proteins in muscle tissue to produce amino acids which can be used to make the glucose that your brain needs. Muscle breakdown is not a good thing.

As far as starvation is concerned the "rule of three" applies - three minutes without oxygen is often lethal, three days without water is often lethal and three weeks without food is often lethal.

In summary, starvation is a poor plan, not just because of its effects on your brain but because of its effects on the rest of your body as well.

[tydurden377]

Ah ok. gotcha. Not a bodybuilding competition at all. Just been lifting weights for a while now and usually either a persons maintaining (taking in the amount of calories someone should take to stay the same weight), cutting (taking less calories, losing weight to shed fat and some muscle mass is lost also), or builking (eating excess calories and building muscle, but some fat is gained too). Just terminology. Thanks

[tydurden377]

So how'd you guys lose weight without lowering your caloric intake?

Desperate to lose weight right now lol